January 2, 2013

Best of Julia’s Bookbag 2012

How’s 2013 treating you already? We had a really really great New Year’s Day! I personally had a better time than I did at Christmas. We sat in front of our (faux) fireplace, played games, read stories, ate leftover cheesecake squares, and stayed cozy all day. I strive to be cozy the way other people strive to stay in shape, or gain enlightenment, or pursue pirate plunder or what-have-you.

I can’t really do a ‘Best of 2012’ post based on stats because the all time most-viewed posts on the blog remain ‘Andrew’s Father’s Day Post’ and my ‘Night Circus’ post, both of which were actually written in 2011. GOOD GRIEF, that Father’s Day post just WILL NOT go quietly into the night.

So I’ve compiled a little list of my favorite posts from last year based on their level of AWESOME, my mood, and other hormonal fancies. Isn’t that the way most people decide things? Just me? I think not.BEST PRESS:

Being featured on Apartment Therapy is the thrill that keeps thrilling! I still can’t believe that anything I created wound up on the great-granddaddy-site-of-all-things-cool-for-families-and-décor.

BEST PARTY I’VE SEEN ANYWHERE:

This Japanese tea party of SHEER INCREDIBLE, which was profiled on the LMNOP website, was hands down the coolest thing I saw on the internet last year. Nothing else came close. I ooohed and aaaahed over the whole amazing soiree in this post.BEST CRAFT:

The paper dolls kit Julia received for her birthday last year was one of the most fantastically fun gifts we, she has ever received! We spent hours making clothes for these little dollies. BEST TREAT:It was tough call between this amazing banana cake I made and my Snowy White Cake, but the white cake is incredibly hard to make and the banana one was easy-peasy so I’m going with the banana. THIS CAKE WAS AMAZING. GO MAKE IT. BEST DRINK:If you’re gonna have a treat, you gotta have a lovely drinky to go with it. Moonlight Tea is like swallowing a warm blanky and laying it gently upon the stomach acids in your tummy. DOESN’T THAT SOUND COZY? But seriously (a state of being I strenuously try to avoid), this is the perfect cold-weather beverage. Make and drink while watching a British period film, wrapped in something soft and woolly, and shoo anyone out the door who might disrupt your zen state of coziness.BEST ANDREW POST:

In my ‘Andrew Has Opinions’ post we learned Many Important Things. Like Andrew’s disdain for British period dramas and Anthropologie, his great love for Sally (his cat wife), and that there are no lengths I will not pursue when it comes to exploiting my poor, long suffering husband in the name of my own entertainment.BEST VINTAGE BOOKS:Hey, how about some books? Did you enjoy any BOOKS last year, Melissa? Why yes. Yes I did. Some of you know by now that vintage books really get me whistling like a teakettle (???), especially VINTAGE FAIRY TALE BOOKS. The posts I did on ‘Great Swedish Fairy Tales’, ‘Sleeping Beauty’ and ‘Once Upon a Time’ were chosen because I think these books in particular, out of all the ones I reviewed last year, are the most special and unique to read, while being the most beautiful to look at. Oh except the 'Sleeping Beauty' book isn't vintage but that makes no never mind to me.

STILL READING???????????? You can stop now. I’m done applauding myself. Actually, what was best about 2012 is that I made several more wonderful friends in the blogging world, and that really really nice people occasionally read my blog and stop and say hello. I can’t tell you how happy-making it is every single time a comment rolls in. I appreciate it so much! Now that it’s officially 2013, I’m really excited to chat books with you, take pictures of pretty things, be silly, and explore the endlessly fascinating world of tea, treats, all things British, and Hello Kitty. We can’t ever forget about her. I won't LET you forget about her.

YES! I loved loved loved all of that stuff too! That cat wife piece was especially enjoyable. What a wonderful year it was... and now its 2013 which seems strange and very futuristic to me. AND- maybe I'll make that banana cake this week- if you promise it really is easy.

Jealous over the Apartment Therapy feature! I knew I'd love you when I read your Strawberry Shortcake rant. Your watercolor photography is still gorgeous. I love those books. I love Hello Kitty. My husband's Siamese is starting to show her age, but no matter how sore she may be, she will always jump up on the couch or bed and snuggle him to no end, so I get the man and Siamese thing.

STAY COZY!!! Love it! And I love your Best list! How awesome you were featured in Apartment Therapy! So cool! And Julia's awesome day pic is just so awesome--in fact, looking at it alone makes me feel like I'm going to an awesome day!

Excellent post! I am all about being cozy this winter. With the cold weather we are having I really don't even want to leave my house. I just want to sit around with a hot cup of tea in hand all day long!

The strawberry post is absolutely hilarious! Ok, if I lived in Seattle I think we would totally be friends and hang out! You are just too much fun!

Awesome recap. It introduced me to some greatness I'd missed. Seriously LOVE the rant.Congratulations for being featured on Apartment Therapy. What an honor. I love them.But what I want to know is where did you get that darling mug and those adorable measuring spoons?

I love that cup too! SO MUCH! I got it at Anthropologie, last summer. I thought the yellow in it would be a good pick me up during grey winters here! The measuring spoons, alas I have no source for them. I won them in a random holiday gift exchange, one of those games where you choose a present not knowing who it's from? My husband's family always does a gift exchange like that and that was where I got the spoons....